Heather Ichord

Heather Ichord is the Founder and CEO of Mile37 Tech LLC, providing expert insights to clients on strategy + operations, defense innovation, and contested logistics—at the "hardest mile" of the race.

Spanning twenty-plus years of work experience, she holds expertise in both public and private sector strategy, budget planning and implementation, product development and operations.

Heather spent more than a decade on active duty as a logistics officer in the United States Marine Corps and then worked as a consultant at the global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company. Most recently, and for nearly six years, she served in the Director's Action Group at the Defense Innovation Unit in Mountain View, California, focused on developing and accelerating commercial technologies for the Department of War.

Heather continues to serve in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. She completed a tour as Regimental Logistics Officer, 25th Marine Regiment, and served as a "plank owner" in standing up the Marine Innovation Unit. At the MIU, she was assigned to lead work on Contested Logistics challenges and served as the unit's Assistant Operations Officer. She most recently completed nearly a year on orders with I Marine Expeditionary Force and the Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity in Camp Pendleton, California.

Heather is an alumna of the United States Naval Academy, where she studied ocean engineering, graduated with distinction, and was a three-time varsity letter winner on the women's rowing team. She and her 1V8+ teammates led the team to the Patriot League Championships title in 2005. While a student-athlete, she also served as Brigade Executive Officer, second in command of the 4,000+ member Brigade of Midshipmen. She now holds several advanced degrees, and is a graduate of the University of North Carolina Wilmington, Boston University, New York University, and the Harvard Kennedy School.

She serves on the Board of Directors at the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation and as a Trustee at the U.S. Naval Academy Athletic Foundation. She lives in Northern Virginia